Volodymyr Zelensky branded some of his closest allies weak, failing and indecisive in a scathing Davos address on Thursday.
The Ukrainian President accused European backers of being too preoccupied with internal disputes to unite as a genuine global force after a week of turmoil over Greenland.
“Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America’s focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost trying to convince the US President to change,” Mr Zelensky said.
He then raged at nations, many of whom are funding Ukraine’s war effort, for choosing discussion over action.
The continent remained a “fragmented kaleidoscope” of smaller powers, he argued.
Before his December Washington meeting with Donald Trump, European leaders urged Mr Zelensky not to request US-made Tomahawk missiles to avoid souring the atmosphere.
“Why can President Trump stop tankers from the shadow fleet and seize oil, when Europe doesn’t?” Mr Zelensky asked.
European nations had failed to invest adequately in defence until Mr Trump pressured them to, he argued.
Volodymyr Zelensky branded some of his closest allies weak, failing and indecisive in a scathing Davos address
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GETTY
The Ukrainian President met Mr Trump at the World Economic Forum shortly before delivering his remarks.
A few hours later, however, the UK and France did manage to seize a tanker in the English Channel in a joint raid.
At the WEF, Mr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian, American and Russian officials would convene in the United Arab Emirates on Friday for a two-day summit to restart peace negotiations.
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Kremlin confirmed the first trilateral peace talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia would be going ahead.
That confirmation came after Vladimir Putin met Donald Trump’s peace envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in Moscow on Thursday night.
READ MORE ON VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY:
Vladimir Putin met special envoy Steve Witkoff again on Thursday night
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REUTERSTalks were “exceptionally substantive, constructive, and… extremely frank and trusting”, the Kremlin said – but a statement also cast doubt over a breakthrough.
Back in Davos, Mr Zelensky described his talks with Mr Trump as “important” and said documents needed to end the conflict were “very nearly” complete.
The Ukrainian leader then turned his fire on Europe’s mini-deployment of 40 soldiers to Greenland.
“Forty soldiers will not protect anything,” he said. “What message does that send to Putin, to China – and even more importantly, what message does that send to Denmark, your close ally?”
He suggested Ukraine has the capability to sink Russian warships near Greenland if invited and admitted to Nato.
Mr Zelensky did manage some warm words for Britain and France for their offer of troops as a ceasefire support measure
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PA
Mr Zelensky then urged Europe to establish a joint military force as confidence in Nato weakened.
The alliance rested “on the belief that the US will help” during a crisis, he warned. “But what if it does not?”
Though the Ukrainian premier did thank Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron for their pledges to deploy troops to Ukraine should a ceasefire be reached.
However, Mr Zelensky stressed that Mr Trump’s “backstop” remained essential for securing lasting peace.
